Post by momtoWill on Sept 12, 2006 16:22:59 GMT -5
Ok, I've really been hesitating on whether or not to post here, as I'm quite sure that any issues we are dealing with are minimal compared to some other issues others are facing. However, I just don't feel comfortable posting/discussing some of Amelia's stuff on MAL.
The truth is, we are not really sure if Amelia has special needs or not, at least far as lifelong disabilities, etc. She was born with a cleft lip, which was initially repaired in country, before her adoption. We learned prior to bringing her home, that there is a 30% chance that a cleft lip alone is a sign of a larger syndrome. Fortuneately, she does not have signs of the more severe syndromes, as children with those usually do not survive for very long, and certainly do not appear relatively healthy, as she does. So far, she has been seen by a team of specialists - speech, ENT, audiologist, dentists, oral surgeon, geneticist, etc. She will continue to be monitored as she goes through her childhood by this same team, keeping an eye open for any possible midline defects. We've been told that she needs surgery soon to remove hypertrophied tonsils/adenoids (she has obstructive sleep apnea, which really scares us at times), place ear tubes, and cap all of her molars. She was born without enamel on many of her teeth, which can either be a sign of a syndrome, poor prenatal nutrition, or prematurity. At this point, we really don't know which. She won't need another lip repair until around 5, if needed, then the big one when she is a teenager. Overall, we feel very fortuneate that she seems to be doing fairly well, both adjusting and healthwise, although this is still scary at times. We'll continue to monitor her speech, as she learns English, how to talk in general, and her new life with us.
I really don't want to post here if it would upset anyone or feel that I don't really belong here. Like I said earlier, I know this is minor compared to what some have to deal with on a daily basis.
The truth is, we are not really sure if Amelia has special needs or not, at least far as lifelong disabilities, etc. She was born with a cleft lip, which was initially repaired in country, before her adoption. We learned prior to bringing her home, that there is a 30% chance that a cleft lip alone is a sign of a larger syndrome. Fortuneately, she does not have signs of the more severe syndromes, as children with those usually do not survive for very long, and certainly do not appear relatively healthy, as she does. So far, she has been seen by a team of specialists - speech, ENT, audiologist, dentists, oral surgeon, geneticist, etc. She will continue to be monitored as she goes through her childhood by this same team, keeping an eye open for any possible midline defects. We've been told that she needs surgery soon to remove hypertrophied tonsils/adenoids (she has obstructive sleep apnea, which really scares us at times), place ear tubes, and cap all of her molars. She was born without enamel on many of her teeth, which can either be a sign of a syndrome, poor prenatal nutrition, or prematurity. At this point, we really don't know which. She won't need another lip repair until around 5, if needed, then the big one when she is a teenager. Overall, we feel very fortuneate that she seems to be doing fairly well, both adjusting and healthwise, although this is still scary at times. We'll continue to monitor her speech, as she learns English, how to talk in general, and her new life with us.
I really don't want to post here if it would upset anyone or feel that I don't really belong here. Like I said earlier, I know this is minor compared to what some have to deal with on a daily basis.
